It Was You (22 page)

So I showered, packed up my stuff and walked downstairs to the parking lot with a still-yawning Tana. The early morning air was cool and I shivered as I opened the rear car door and chucked my bag inside.

“
If he calls, I'll tell him you're driving,” Tana said.

I nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”

She reached for my hands. “Hey. It's nothing. He lost his phone. He left it in the car. Battery died. He's a boy. Just because he's hot doesn't mean he won't do stupid things.”

I tried to smile. “I know.”

“So don't break the land speed record trying to get home,” she said, then pulled me into a hug. “Be careful. And call me as soon as you get home.”

“
I will.”

She squeezed me. “And thank you. For coming up here this weekend. It helped. Thank you, Abs.”

I squeezed her back. “Anytime.”

She let go of me. “Go. Before I start bawling my eyes out.”

I already had tears in mine and I laughed, nodded, and slid into the driver's seat. “Call you as soon as I'm home.”

She stood there, waving as I drove out of the lot.

***

The traffic on a Sunday morning heading south wasn't as bad and I was able to make good time between San Luis and Los Angeles, save for one bathroom and gas stop. The highway clogged up again as I came over the rise and down the hill toward UCLA and stayed that way until I hit Long Beach.

It was strange not having a phone. My parents had complained so often about how attached both Annika and I were to our phones, but they'd finally given up when they saw it was an un-winnable battle. I couldn't recall the last time I didn't have a working phone in my pocket or on the seat next to me. It was uncomfortable, like I'd forgotten something or was missing out on something. Every so often I glanced over at my phone on the passenger seat, like it might magically light up with messages and voicemails. I felt completely disconnected and I didn't like that feeling one bit.

The traffic ebbed and flowed through Orange County but opened up once I hit San Clemente. I was able make up some time as I drove through north county San Diego, maybe driving a little faster than I should've. But I was anxious. Anxious to get out of the car, anxious to plug in my stupid phone and anxious to see West.

I contemplated going straight to his house, but decided that I'd go home, change clothes, get the phone powered up and then head over.

The empty house wasn't a surprise. With Annika moved out and my parents spending nearly every day at the office, it was nearly like having my own place. I'd gotten used to only sharing the house with Annika, as my parents had spent years working seven days a week. Real estate wasn't a nine to five venture and while there had been times that I wished they'd been home more, I realized that living at home during the first semester of college was almost like living on my own. Almost.

I made a face at my forgotten charger on my nightstand, plugged in the phone, tore off my clothes and hopped into the shower. The hot water felt like stinging needles on my neck and back, a reminder of the discomfort I'd lived through sleeping on an air mattress on a dorm room floor for two nights. I had momentary thoughts about West when I talked to him right before his shower and was tempted to pretend he was under the water with me. But I decided that I preferred the real thing and quickly rinsed off, cut the water and toweled myself dry.

I wrapped the towel around myself, brushed through my hair, then stood in front of my closet, scanning my clothes for the perfect outfit. I thumbed through the hangers, finally pulling out a tight-fitting, black t-shirt. I fastened my bra and slipped the shirt over my head, knowing the v-neck showed off just the right amount of cleavage. I grabbed a pair of denim shorts from my dresser drawer and shimmied into them. Satisfied, I dried and straightened my hair, then put on eyeliner and lipstick. I shoved my make-up back into my cosmetics bag and frowned at my reflection. I looked like I was going out on a date when all I was going to do was go see him for the first time in two days.

But I didn't care. I wanted to see him and I wanted to look good when I saw him.

I wanted him to want me.

I sat down on the edge of my bed and grabbed my phone. The battery light was blinking, an indication that it was charging. I slid the screen open.

And didn't find any texts.

Or voicemails.

Which I thought was really strange.

He hadn't even tried to text me again? Or call me? Did he get angry at me and think I was ignoring him? Maybe. But it was weird to me that he hadn't even tried.

A knot of self-doubt settled into my gut.

Why?

The only thing I could think was that he was angry with me, that he thought I'd forgotten about him and that he'd gotten miffed when I hadn't contacted him again after the phone died.

I shook my head. So stupid for not bringing the charger with me. So, so stupid.

I rummaged in the drawer for the car charger I never had in my car. I found it, pulled it out and disconnected my phone from the wall charger. I'd never forget it again, I told myself. And I'd charge the damn thing every time I was in the car.

I stood.

The knot was still there in my stomach.

But the only way to make it go away was to go see West and apologize for my stupidity.

THIRTY FOUR

I parked outside West's apartment for a moment, a nervousness weighing on me that I was trying to wish away.

The entire drive over, it bothered me that there were absolutely no messages on my phone from him. Not a single one. I could understand if he'd ignored the calls from Tana's phone when he didn't recognize the number, but I couldn't understand why he'd just completely stopped contacting me. I expected a couple of texts, wondering where I was. Maybe a voicemail or two, with some smart ass remarks about how I was ditching him. I was prepared to take the harassment and maybe even a little bit of anger from him that I probably deserved for being such an airhead.

But getting nothing from him was completely disconcerting.

I checked my hair and makeup in the rearview mirror and took a deep breath.

Settle down, I told myself. Complete panic reaction. He was probably letting you spend time with your friend.

I tried to believe that as I got out of the car.

My fist barely hit the door before it swung open and he had me in his arms. His lips locked down on mine and I wrapped my arms around his bare torso. He picked me up, carried me through the doorway, kicked the door shut behind him and laid me down on the sofa, his weight coming down softly on top of me.

The nervousness died quickly and I remembered exactly what I'd missed about him for two days.

Everything.

After a minute of kissing and groping, he pulled back and smiled at me, his eyes half-open. “Hello.”

I smiled back. “Hello.”

He kissed me again, harder, his tongue flicking at my lips and then my teeth. I kissed him back, tasting him, drinking him in.

He pulled back again. “Hello again.”

My heart thumped against my chest. “Hello again.”

“I missed you.”

“
Missed you, too.”

His eyes fluttered close and he rubbed his nose gently against mine. “An hour away from you is too much. Time drags without you, Abby.”

I didn't think guys spoke that way. Maybe in the movies, but not in real life and certainly not in my life. But it was like he always knew the right words to say to me.

“
I thought you'd call,” he said, kissing my neck, his eyelashes brushing against my skin.

“
I know,” I said, hugging him tightly. “I'm sorry.”

“
Don't apologize,” he whispered. “You're here now.”

We kissed for a few minutes, his hands finding nearly every inch of my body and skin, and my hands moved through his hair, tugging gently on it. His weight on top of me felt comfortable, warm, as he pressed down on top of me. The only thing that would've made it better is if our clothes hadn't been between us.

I wrapped my legs around his and held him in place, pushing my hips into his. He groaned into my mouth and pulled back. “Mmmm. That feels good.”

“
Yeah,” I whispered, running my hands up his chest. “It does.”

He stared down at me for a long moment, his eyes piercing mine. There was an intensity in his eyes that I'd never seen in anyone else's. I liked that it was directed at me.

“I'm sorry,” he said, blinking. “About last night.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please. I'm the one that needs to apologize. I didn't...”

“No,” he said, cutting me off. “It was my fault.”

“
West, no. I mean, it was my...”

He shook his head emphatically. “No. My fault. I didn't need to react that way.”

He leaned down to kiss me but I kept my hand on his chest and held him up. “React what way?”

His lips twisted for a moment. “I just shouldn't have gotten so pissed off. I swear, Abby. I'm trying to rein it in. It just isn't so easy for me.”

I was confused. “So you were pissed at me?”

He tilted his head, a crooked grin creeping onto his lips. “Uh. Yeah. Think that's why I started yelling.”

“You were yelling? What? At the phone?”

Now he looked as confused as I felt. “What?”

“I forgot my charger,” I said. “That's why my phone was dead. That's why I couldn't call or text you. And I was going to text you this afternoon when I got home, but...”

“
Got home from where?” he said, his face screwed up with confusion.

“
From Tana's,” I said, widening my eyes. “In San Luis.”

He rolled off of me and I sat up next to him. “I know it was stupid,” I continued. “I couldn't believe I left without it and I thought about going to buy a new one but I didn't want to spend the money when it was just one night. So I wasn't ignoring you.”

He stared at me for a long time, then leaned back into the sofa. “I'm totally lost here.”

I took his hand, folded my fingers into his. “I'm an idiot. I left the charger on my nightstand when I left on Friday and...”

“But you came back early,” he said, looking at me.

A clock ticked on a wall somewhere in the room and I processed his words. “I what?”

“You came back early,” he said again. “From San Luis.”

“
Well, I got back this afternoon which might've been a little early, but...”

He shook his head. “No. You came back yesterday.”

The clock got louder and the ticking filled my ears.

I blinked several times. “No, I didn't. I got back maybe an hour or so ago.”

“Then how did I see you last night?” he asked. “Like right here on the couch. How did I see you last night?”

My stomach clenched and I felt myself sit up straighter. “I wasn't here last night, West.”

“The hell you weren't,” he said, his eyes narrowed at me and I couldn't tell if it was out of anger or confusion. “You were right here.”

“
What are you talking about?” I asked, shaking my head, my temples throbbing.

He stood and walked over to the front door. “You came right in through this door.” Then he pointed to the couch. “Then we sat right here.” He stared at me. “And you don't remember what we did on the couch?”

Every muscle in my stomach pinched tight. My temples continued to throb. My hands were shaking.

I shook my head. “I wasn't here, West.”

His cheeks flushed red with anger. “What the fuck, Abby? I'm not stupid. You think I don't remember you coming in here, taking my shorts off and going down on me?”

My stomach convulsed and I had to swallow back down the bile.

“It was all I could do to keep you off me,” he said, frowning. “You begged me to take you into the bedroom. Begged me. Pretty sure I wasn't dreaming. But now you're telling me it didn't happen? Why? You changed your mind or something?”

Tears stung the corners of my eyes. “Did you sleep with...me?”

He stared at me like he'd never seen me before, like I had three heads and had just wandered in off the street. “No! That's what I was apologizing for. For getting so hot that you were drunk and I didn't want it to be like that the first time we...” His voice trailed off.

I tried to say something, but my voice caught. I knew that it wasn't right that he hadn't tried to call or text. It hadn't felt right. The only thing I'd been wrong about was thinking he might've been with Kayla.

It hadn't been Kayla.

I knew exactly who had showed up at his door and impersonated me.

“What did you do?” I managed to ask. “With...me?”

He looked away for a moment, shaking his head, like he couldn't believe he was having to explain something I should remember. “I told you I didn't want to. Because you were drunk. And you got all shitty with me, pissed off and calling me a pussy. Then I got really mad and told you to get the fuck out.” He shook his head. “I didn't mean it. But I was pissed. By the time I walked outside to stop you, you were already gone.”